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THE EMERALD BOOK 



J FEJV FACTS BRIEFLY TOLD 



BY 
SHREVE & CO. 




MAY 
19 4 




SHREVE & COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 

SAN FRANCISCO 



::::::^ 



THE EMERALD BOOK 



N D E X 



Alphabet of Stones 


Page 15 


Aztecs 


" 9 


Ancients and Emeralds 


" 7 


Authorities — A List of Publications 


" 18 


Chemical Properties 


Pages 6 and 13 


CrystalKzation 


Page 9 


Finest Emeralds 


" 9 


Gem Superstitions 


" 7 


Gem Sentiments 


" 16 


Medicinal 


" 7 


Spanish Marauders 


Pages 8 and 9 


Summary 


" 13 " 14 


Verse -"The Emerald" 


Page 11 


"TheMayCyd" 


" 12 


"The Emerald Maid" 


" 12 



Where Found 



f^^l^J^J 



THE EMERALD BOOK 



FOREWORD 

OF ALL stones classified among the "precious/' 
I the Ejnerald is the fullest of poetic sugges- 
tion. Its color is nature's favorite and its 
rarity lends a charm and mystery ever fas- 
cinating to the human mind and heart. 

Bew^ildering mists of uncounted ages enshroud its past. 
Unknown and mysterious forces of nature work with 
weights and powers irresistible for aeons of time to 
mould and shape the precious bits of undying light, and 
Nature counts no time, effort, or cost, but constructs with a 
dreadful patience until her purpose is accomplished, and 
the substance of her toil lies at last embedded in her very 
heart of hearts. Then, as though the treasure lying 
hidden away from the eyes of men were too precious to 
keep from her human creatures, she whispers something 
of her secret through the forests, and fresh watered spots 
— telling of the Emerald. The green places of the earth 
and the kindly deeps of the sun-touched sea, breathe 
promises of peace and good, all the while whispering frag- 
ments of the Secret and rumors of the Hidden Treasure. 



THE EMERALD BOOK 



WHAT IS THE EMERALD? 

IT IS not proposed by the publishers of this booklet 
to give a lengthy or scientific treatise upon the 
Emerald, but rather to tell simply some interest- 
ing facts in as few words as may be, avoiding 
when possible, technical terms and superfluous scientific 
word usages. There are many who want to know a 
little of the subject from plain, intelligent interest — a 
suggestion of the whole for everyday uses. 

What is the Emerald? It is d, green Beryl^ but 
being green it takes the name of "Emerald,'* or the rarest 
variety of Beryls. From whence or by what influences 
it gets its color, scientists are at variance ; some asserting 
that the presence of organic matter produces the hue, 
while others hold to the opinion that an oxide of 
chromium is responsible for the Emerald green. The 
latter theory is the one given most credit. The true Beryl, 
or Aquamarine, is frequently found, but an Emerald 
without flaw, muddiness or structural defect is virtually 
unknown. Over two-thirds of the Emerald is composed 
of silica^ the remaining parts of alumina^ glucina^ etc. 






THE EMERALD BOOK 



During ages of nature's working the Emerald crys- 
tallizes in hexagonal forms and finally becomes a six or 
a twelve sided prism, and is found embedded in veins of 
white c alette and iron pyrites^ and often loose in 
pockets or cavities. The Emerald was known to the 
Ancients and much esteemed by them, but accurate 
knowledge regarding the stone seemed not to exist, for 
the collector and connoisseur is known to have had 
green glass passed off upon him as the genuine stone. 

Nero was short-sighted and used an Emerald to adjust 
his vision — but not his morals. Curious superstitions 
enshroud the Emerald, often almost humorous. But 
a sympathetic lover of precious stones finds his intelli- 
gence leaning towards these harmless traditions and 
taking a happy satisfaction in them. In this channel of 
research we find that the Emerald has been used medic- 
inally. Claims have been made that it was an antidote 
to poisons. An old German physician used it in all 
diseases of the heart, and other records have it that 
" placing a Beryl ( the Emerald's sister ) in water, the 
water will be moved," or made partially effervescent. 
Old wiseacres assert that the Ejnerald is good for 



THE EMERALD BOOK 



troublesome eyes, and moralists claim for the Emerald 
a salutary influence upon the baser passions, as it pre- 
served the chastity of the wearer, or if the wearer was 
too bad a subject, the stone broke into atoms — this last 
claim seems, however, to have been disproved in the case 
of Nero. Ancient India, Egypt and Greece knew and 
prized the Emerald, and to this day, remains of old mines 
exist at Sikait, in Africa near the border of Egypt ; from 
these mines many of the early stones probably came ; 
but until the latter part of the 1 6th Century the Emerald 
was very rare in Europe. 

The invasion of South and Central America by the 
Spaniards was the reason of more of these precious 
stones being known. A story is told of Spanish 
marauders who, after their conquest of Peru, where 
butchery, rapine and ruthless vandalism marked their 
path — returned to their own land with two cases 
of Emeralds " each weighing an hundred weight." 

The Peruvians considered the Emerald sacred and 
adorned the temples of their Gods with wonderful gems, 
this stone for superstitious reasons being considered most 
acceptable to the Gods. Marvels of lapidary work 



THE EMERALD BOOK 



existed among the Aztecs, for the Elmerald was cut by 
them into many shapes of birds, flowers, fishes and 
insects. The wonder of this may be comprehended 
when the hardness of the Emerald is considered, for 
there are but ten harder precious stones ; apropos of 
this, the Spanish marauders are known to have destroyed 
many priceless gems in crude tests and experiments. 
Gorged with blood and loot, bKnded by avaricious skep- 
ticism and doubt, their red, blundering hands obliterated 
at a stroke, many of these wonders of Nature's working, 
perfected through stretches of incalculable time. 

The finest Emeralds of modem times are taken from 
the mines of the Republic of Columbia, which were 
discovered and worked by the Spanish in 1555, and it 
is from this country on the banks of the Minero north of 
Bogota, that the choicest Emeralds are still found. Exam- 
ples of lesser value are found in Burmah, Ural ( Europe ), 
Austria, East India, Australia and the United States. 
Emeralds of really fine color have been found in North 
Carolina and vast sums have been expended to develop 
the mines, and though Emerald crystals are abundant, 
they are not sufficiently transparent ; lacking this requi- 







THE EMERALD BOOK 














site the mine has proved unpaying and has been aban- 
doned. 

A curious fact about the Emerald is that when first 
mined it is very soft, but immediately takes an exceeding 
hardness upon exposure to the air. 

Olivines of fine green resemble the Emerald but 
their weight is greater, and their lights are " fatty " or 
lacking in scintillating brilliancy. 

TO CONCLUDE 

From these few facts about the Emerald it may be 
readily understood what great interest the stone excites. 
Its whole history is absorbing; it sparkles v^th mys- 
terious significance, gleams with poetic suggestion, and 
practically lures the critical student to deeper thought 
and analytical study. 
















10 



THE EMERALD BOOK 



THE EMERALD 

GEM of the Earth, fair gift of the Sea, 
Soul of the Soil and Waves, 
Hoard of a God that saves 
Each gleam and glow for a time to be 
Comfort and Peace, when a Misery 
Taps at Thy door. 

Green of the fields, when the glowing Sun 

Follows the fall of rain, 

Warm with his gold again. 
Fabric of Joy from the meshes spun. 
Peace of the Earth — from the Sea rest won 

In endless store. 

Glow of the Soil and flash of the Sea, 
Green of the yielding Elarth, 
Gleam of the New Day's Birth, 

Symbol of Joy in futurity. 

Light of a fair maturity, 

Gleam ever more ! 

J.M. 



THE EMERALD BOOK 



THE MAY CHILD 

The Babe whose eyes first open 

To see the light of Day, 
When Earth in flowery glory 

Proclaims the month of May, 
Shall be the ward of Fortune, 

His days with joy be rife 
For the Spirit of the Emerald 

Shall guard the Youngling's life. 

THE EMERALD, MAID AND WIFE 

The luckiest Maid in all the land — 

The luckiest Wife is she 
Who wears the Emerald on her hand. 

Thrice lucky shall she be. 

The luckiest Mother too is she 
Whose babe first sees the Day 

When the world is gay and flowery — 
There *s luck i ' " the Emerald May." 

Rhymes adapted from old Birthstone jingles. 



THE EMERALD BOOK 



U M 



M 



R 



Y 



THE EMERALD Is the Grass Green Variety of the 
Beryl. The Aquamarine, chrysolite 
(greenish yellow) and golden Beryl 
complete the Beryl class. 

WHERE FOUND The finest are found in the Republic 
of Columbia. The less valued in 
Austria, Russia, Egypt, Australia 
and the United States. 

7.5 to 7.8, Specific Gravity 2.65 to 
2.75 ; somewhat lighter than Aqua- 
marine. 
Vitreous : transparent to translucent. 

68 ^ Silica. Alumina, 1 5 to 
20^; Glucina, etc., II to \4%, 
Coloring matter probably an oxide 
of Chromium or organic matter. 

All shades of green. The £'em 
color however is a clear rich velvety 
green. 



HARDNESS 

LUSTRE 
COMPOSITION 



COLOR 







THE EMERALD BOOK 














S U M M A R Y—C n i i n u e d 

CUTTING Usually "step" cut, straight facets 
which decrease in length as they 
recede from the "girdle" (portion 
of greatest area) — or en cabochon — 
flat with a convex top surface. 

SYMBOLIZES Immortality, incorruptibility, perfected 
happiness. Month — May. Apostle 
— John. 

THE LARGEST Emerald known is owned by the 
Duke of Devonshire and is a six- 
sided prism, weighing 1 350 Karats, 
of good color, transparent and clean. 










" 






14 



THE EMERALD BOOK 



DURING the Eighteenth Century, in France 
and England there was a quaint custom of 
setting bracelets, rings, and brooches with 
gems, the first letters of which form some 
motto or spell some pretty sentiment. The following 
is the accepted alphabetical arrangement for Precious 
Stones : — 



A- 


- Amethyst 


H— Hyacinth 


Q— Quartz 




Alexandrite 


Hiddenite 


R— Ruby 




Almandine 


I — Idocrase 


S — Sapphire 


B- 


-Beryl 


lolite 


T — ^Topaz 


C- 


-Chrysoberyl 


J — Jargoon 


Tourmaline 




Carbuncle 


K — Kyanite 


U— Uranite 




Cymophane 


L — Lynx Sapphire 


V — Vesuvianite 


D- 


-Diamond 


M — Moonstone 


W— Water Sap 


E- 


-Emerald 


N— Natrolite 


X — Xanthite 


F- 


-Feldspar 


O— Opal 


Z— Zircon 


G- 


- Garnet 


P— Peridot 





15 



THE EMERALD BOOK 



T 



HE vowel " E ** is the letter appearing often- 
est in the formation of English words, so 
" Emerald *' has a sentimental importance, as 
in the following combination of words, and 
many others: — 



L-ynx Sapphire 
O-pal 

V-"esuvianite 
E-merald 

H-yacinth 
O-pal 
P-eridot 
E-merald 



Etcetera, etcetera, as found without end in "Love*s 
vocabulary.** 



D-iamond 


L-ynx Sapphire 


E-merald 


O-pal 


A-methyst 


V-esuvianite 


R-uby 


E-merald 


E-merald 




S-apphire 


M-oonstone 


T-opaz 


E-merald 



16 



THE EMERALD BOOK 



THE following passage is an extract from 
Ruskin's "Ethics of the Dust;" it seems appro- 
priate and gives a simple picture charmingly 
told of the Crystals struggle for existence : 
" Then when he was a little older, came more clay ; 
and poured itself upon him here, at the side ; and he has 
laid crystal over that, and lived on, in his purity. Then 
the clay came on at his angles, and tried to cover them, 
and round them away; but upon that he threw out 
buttress-crystals at his angles, all as true to his own central 
line as chapels round a cathedral apse; and clustered 
them round the clay ; and conquered it again. At last 
the clay came on at his summit, and tried to blunt his 
summit ; but he could not endure that for an instant ; and 
left his flanks all rough, but pure ; and fought the clay at 
his crest, and built crest over crest and peak over peak, 
till the clay surrendered at last, and here is his summit, 
smooth and pure, terminating a pyramid of alternate clay 
and crystal ! '* 



THE EMERALD BOOK 



A FEW BOOKS AS GOOD AUTHORITIES 
UPON THE PRECIOUS STONE: 

" History and Mystery of Precious Stones," by W. 
Jones, Chatto & Windus, London; " Natural History of 
Precious Stones," C. W. King, Geo. Bell & Sons, 
London; " Precious Stones and Gems," E. W. Streeter, 
Geo. Bell & Sons, London; "Precious Stones," S. M. 
Bumham, New York; " The Story of Famous Precious 
Stones," A. E. R. Orpan, Putnam, New York; "Hand 
Book of Precious Stones," M. D. Rothschild, Putnam, 
New York; " Gems and Precious Stones," G. F. Kunz, 
Scientific Publishing Co., New York (at present out of 
print); "Precious Stones," W. R. Cattelle, J. B. Lippin- 
cott, New York, 



18 



SHREVE & COMPANY, GOLD 
AND SILVER SMITHS. MANU- 
FACTURERS, STATIONERS, 
IMPORTERS OF PRECIOUS 
STONES, POST AND MARKET 
STREETS, SAN FRANCISCO 



No. G3 
THE STANLBY-TAVLOR COMPANY, S. 



APR 26 1904 



s? 



2 86: 











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